Mechanical toy



Sept. 2 1924.

v N. P. o'ns MECHANICAL TOY Filed Aug. 27. 1923 INVENTOR. A/orZm f s TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 2, 1924,

NORTON PRENTISS OTIS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Application filed August 27, 1923. Serial No. 659,594.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NoRroN PRENTISS OTIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ean Francisco, county of San rancisco, State of California, have invented .a new and useful Mechanical Toy, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanical toys and has for its primary object the provision of a device of this character which is simple of construction, strong, durable, and which is particularly characterized by a novel form of mechanical figure having movable limbs, and means for actuating said limbs to cause same to respectively simulate walking and running motions and thereby lend animation to the toy and produce an amusing, interesting and pleasing effect to the eye of the child operating same.

My invention, therefore, comprises certain new features of construction and arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims annexed hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the toy. Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, Figure 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the toy showing the leg moving mechanism. Figure a is a front elevation with parts in section.

In carrying the invention into practice I employ, as one example, a wagon body 5 which may be formed from a single blank of sheet metal and in advance of said body is a figure 6 preferably in the form of a horse or animal. The wagon body 5 may be secured to the walls of the figure 6 by fastenings 7. The figure 6 is also preferably formed from a single strip of sheet metal and same is provided with parallel walls 88 which overlap extensions (9) of the body (5).

The body (5) is provided with a crank shaft (10) having extensions 1111 to which ground engaging wheels (12) are mounted. This crank shaft is provided with crank portions (13) and (14) which respectively extend in opposite directions.

The animal figure 6 is provided with a rear set of legs (15) and a substantially identical set of front legs (16). The rear legs each consist of an upper link (17) pivoted at (18) to the adjacent wall (9) and a lower section (19) pivoted at (20) to the mating upper section. The crank portion (14) of the shaft (10) is provided with a U- shaped connection (21) having an upper arm (22) formed at its free end with an eye (23) which extends around the pivot (20) and a lower arm (21) bolted or otherwise suitably secured at (25) to the lower section (19) of the respective leg. The rear end of the connection (22) has an eye (26) which receives the crank portion (14).

The description above set forth followed in attaching the connection (27 of the crank portion (13) with its respective rear leg and it is believed that an explanationof one will suffice for the other. It is stated, however, that by reversing the position of the crank portions and (1 1) the rear legs are moved in lifelike timed order with one another. Motion is taken direct from the crank shaft (10) to the rear legs. The front legs are substantially identical with the rear legs and same essentially include the following elements:

The crank shaft (28) is supported to revolve in bearings (29) which extend downward from the walls of the animal figure 6. This shaft (28) is provided with a fixed gear wheel (30) over which a sprocket chain (31) extends. This chain also passes around a gear wheed on the rear crank shaft (10). In this manner power is transferred from the rear crank shaft to the front crank shaft and as the latter shaft is connected with the front legs in exact accordance with the manner of connecting the rear legs with the rear crank shaft it will be manifest that all of the legs of the figure are moved in timed. lifelike succession. By extending the upper branches (22) forwardly and looping the same freely around the joints (20) and by extending the lower branches in a forward direction and fixedly connecting same with the lower sections of the legs each leg is oscillated and simultaneously with these oscillations the respective sections of the legs are moved to simulate natural motion.

The forward crank shaft (28) is connected at (33) with a brace bar (84) which extends down from the front of the animal figure 6 and, as illustrated, same is formed with a depending extension on which a castor (36) is mounted. This elevates the free extremities of the lower sections of the legs slightly above the ground line or disposes same with respect thereto as to allow for free movements of the legs.

The toy is of the type adapted. to be drawn over a floor by a child pulling same by means of a string (37 However, it shall be understood that I do not wish to be limited in this respect and that any suitable well known means may be employed for propelling the toy to set up motion of the wheels (12) necessary to the transmission of power to the legs of the figure.

I claim:

1. A figure having legs consisting of upper sections pivotally hung upon the figure,

lower sections pivoted to the first sections,

a driven crank shaft, and U-shaped connections between the crank shaft and the respective legs and each includin an arm operatively connected with the JOlIlt between the mating sections of a respective leg and an arm fixed to the lower section of said. leg. 1

2. A mechanicaltoy comprisinga figure having a plurality of sets of jointed legs, each of said legs comprising a' pairv of jointed sections, one of which is hung from a fixed point, and means operating against the joints of the legs and against the lower sections of the latter to impart lifelike motions to said legs.

3. A mechanical toy comprising a figurehaving a plurality of sets of jointed legs, each of said legs comprising a pair of jointed sections, one of which is hung from a fixed point, and means operating against the joints of the legs and against the lower sections of the latter to impart lifelike motions to said legs, said.- means comprising a pair of crank shafts and connecting devices 

